Effect of surface applications of lime, gypsum and phosphogypsum on the alleviating of surface and subsurface acidity in a soil under pasture

Soil Research ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 995 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJ Smith ◽  
MB Peoples ◽  
G Keerthisinghe ◽  
TR James ◽  
DL Garden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Soil ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Depth Interval ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Surface Soil Ph ◽  
Treatment Application ◽  
Effect Of Surface

Changes in the chemistry of an acidic grey massive earth soil in response to various ameliorant treatments (gypsum and phosphogypsum in the presence or absence of lime) were investigated in a subterranean clover-based pasture in the southern highlands of New South Wales. Lime, gypsum, and phosphogypsum, or lime in combination with gypsum and phosphogypsum were broadcast at 2500 kg ha-1 on the surface of the soil in May 1990. Pasture production was determined and the soil was sampled to 25 cm depth, 6 and 18 months after treatment application. Surface soil pH was increased to 6-1 by the application of lime, gypsum plus lime and phosphogypsum plus lime treatments in the 0-5 cm depth interval, but remained unchanged when gypsum or phosphogypsum was used alone. Calcium chloride extractable aluminium increased down the soil profile under all treatments to 10-15 cm, but was highest in the gypsum treatment at depth. The application of phosphogypsum increased the 0.01 m CaCl2 extractable fluoride in the surface 5 cm from 26 to 43 �M. In contrast, fluoride concentrations were decreased to between 5.3 and 7.3 �M in the lime, gypsum plus lime and phosphogypsum plus lime treatments. Gypsum and phosphogypsum decreased the concentration of Al3+ in solution and on the exchange sites in the 0-5 cm depth interval. However, the effectiveness of the amendments to reduce toxic Al3+ concentrations were confined to the surface 5 cm. The concentration of aluminium and the activity of Al3+ in the 0-5 cm soil layer at both soil samplings were decreased by the amendments. Lime, and gypsum or phosphogypsum in combination with lime, were the most effective treatments for reducing the activity of Al3+. The activity of Al3+ increased with depth in all treatments. The pH and activity of Al3+ measured in the 0.01 m CaCl2 extracts plot near the gibbsite solubility line and suggest that Al solubility was controlled by this mineral. Exchangeable Ca in the 0-5 cm soil layer was significantly increased by the application of lime whereas exchangeable aluminium was decreased by lime, gypsum and phosphogypsum. There was no significant change in exchangeable cations other than Al below the surface 5 cm which suggests limited leaching of lime, gypsum and phosphogypsum in the profile within the 18 month study period. Pasture yield was significantly increased by the addition of lime and was related to the decrease in the activity of Al3+ in the surface soil.

Performance of breeding ewes on lucerne-subterranean clover pastures

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 758 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Hall ◽  
EC Wolfe ◽  
BR Cullis
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
Lamb Growth

Pasture production, ewe and lamb growth, ewe wool production and diet quality were studied on lucerne-subterranean clover pastures at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Lucerne was sown at rates of 0.75 to 3.0 kg/ha, and the pastures were rotationally grazed with Border Leicester x Merino ewes at 9.6 or 12.7 sheep/ha, the ewes lambing in August- September. Lucerne density declined by 45% over the 3 years on all treatments. The clover cultivar sown, Woogenellup, had low persistence, particularly at 12.7 sheep/ha. The density of lucerne had little effect on annual wool and lamb production, although the ewes grew faster on the denser lucerne in summer and the sparser lucerne in winter. At 12- 7 sheep/ha, there was an extra 19% total lamb weight by the end of November and an extra 22% of finer wool (1 �m) annually, but the fleeces had a higher proportion of wool tenderness. The major limitations of the lucerne-subterranean clover pastures to sheep production were the low quality of the diet in early summer, and low pasture production in late winter. In early summer the lucerne was rapidly consumed, leaving only moderate quality clover and grass residues, which limited lamb growth, while in winter pregnancy toxaemia occurred, fleeces were tender and wool growth was low, particularly during a drought in 1976.

The fate of nitrogen fertilisers added to red gradational soils at Batlow, New South Wales, and its implications with respect to soil acidity

Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 863 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. P. Little
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Soil Analysis ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Exchangeable Ca

Red gradational soils at Batlow, in New South Wales, which are used for apple growing, have acid subsoils with exchangeable aluminium (Al) frequently in excess of exchangeable calcium (Ca). There is often inadequate Ca in the fruit cortex of post-harvest apples to maintain good fruit quality and this can lead to losses in cool-store. It is possible that Al in these acid subsoils has interfered with Ca uptake by the trees. The excessive use of nitrogenous fertilisers leads to soil acidity, and it was thought likely that this was exacerbating the subsoil acidity common in the district. In October 1992, soil analysis detected considerable ammonium in the surface 0·3 m at orchard sites at Batlow monitored for mineral nitrogen (N). This probably came from heavy spring dressings of fertiliser. One site examined in detail showed that about half of the ammonium had disappeared by January 1993, but a large nitrate envelope appeared with a peak at 0·6 m which in turn disappeared by April that year. This establishes that heavy applications of ammonium are nitrified, leached into the subsoil, and lost. Under such a high N regime, orchard soil profiles should be more acid than adjacent forest soils. However, it was found that the acidity of the surface soil was less, and the exchangeable Ca greater in the orchard soils, compared with soil profiles in the adjacent eucalypt forest, although amelioration of the subsoils had not occurred. Samples taken from representative sites at Batlow, at the 0–0·1, 0·1–0·2, and 0·3–0·4 m depths, were dosed with ammonium sulfate and leached with water in the laboratory for 23 days in a free-draining environment. Nitrate and ammonium were determined in the leachates. At the end of the experiment, the pH and exchangeable Ca, Mg, and Mn were determined in the leached samples. Only the neutral surface soils were able to nitrify ammonium effectively and nitrification was positively correlated with pH, and with exchangeable Ca and Mg. From this it is argued that the acidity produced by the addition of ammonium sulfate or urea will be nitrified in the surface but the acidity produced will be neutralised, provided it is accompanied by an adequate dressing of lime. Ammonium tends to remain in the surface soil, but if leached, it will not be nitrified in the subsoil. Nitrate leached into the subsoil will not be acid-forming but, if denitrified, may help to reduce acidity. For this work, the soil pH was measured in 1 KCl. So that readers can refer this to the pH in 0·01 CaCl2, a relationship was established between the two measures.

Seasonal fluctuations in mineral sulphur under subterranean clover pasture in southern New South Wales

Soil Research ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
CH Williams
Keyword(s):  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Sulphate Content ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sulphate Sulphur ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Clover Pasture

Seasonal changes in sulphate sulphur were studied in a soil under subterranean clover pasture. Fluctuations in sulphate content were found to be similar to those in nitrate. Both sulphate and nitrate accumulated in the surface soil during summer, immediately after senescence of the pasture. High concentrations were maintained throughout the summer-autumn period and these decreased to low values in winter and spring. The higher values in summer probably resulted from mineralization of soil organic matter under favourable moisture and temperature conditions, and lack of plant uptake. Minor fluctuations were associated with partial leaching by rainwater. The low values in winter and spring were probably brought about by leaching and plant uptake, together with low rates of mineralization at low soil temperatures.

Effect of gypsum on establishment, persistence and productivity of lucerne and annual pasture legumes on two grey Vertosols in southern New South Wales

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
R. C. Hayes ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
K. Y. Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Legume Seed ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Annual Legumes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
Pasture Yield

Changes in pasture yield and botanical composition due to gypsum application were examined on Vertosols at two locations of differing soil sodicity, Grogan and Morangarell, in southern New South Wales. Two pasture treatments were examined. One was an annual pasture comprised of 3 annual legumes (2 subterranean clover Trifolium subterraneum L. cultivars, Clare and Riverina, and balansa clover T. michelianum Savi cv. Paradana), while the second treatment consisted of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) cv. Aquarius sown in a mixture with the same annual legumes. Gypsum had no effect on the establishment or persistence of lucerne at either site. Gypsum increased the number of subterranean clover seedlings present in autumn in annual swards at the more sodic Grogan site in each of the 4 years, but provided no difference when the clover was in a mixture with lucerne. Annual legume seed yields in annual-only swards increased with gypsum by up to 58% at Grogan and 38% at Morangarell. Seed yields of both cultivars of subterranean clover declined as a proportion of the total annual legume seed bank when lucerne was included in the mixture, in contrast to balansa clover (at Grogan) and the naturalised annual legumes, burr medic (M. polymorpha L.) and woolly clover (T. tomentosum L.), which all increased in relative seed yield in the presence of lucerne. Total pasture production at the Grogan site increased with gypsum by up to 15% per annum in annual swards and 36% in lucerne swards depending on the season. Yield responses to gypsum by the lucerne component were observed in 10 of the 13 seasonal yield measurements taken at Grogan. However, total pasture yield and seasonal yields were unaffected by both gypsum and pasture type at the less sodic Morangarell site. It was concluded that sowing a diverse mixture of annual legumes or polycultures was conducive to maintaining productive pastures on these spatially variable soils. Lucerne dried the soil profile (0.15–1.15 m) more than annual pastures at both sites. The combination of gypsum and lucerne enhanced water extraction at depth (0.6–1.15 m) at the Grogan site increasing the size of the dry soil buffer whereas gypsum increased soil water at depth (>0.6 m) under annual swards.

Assessment of the phosphorus and sulphur status of subterranean clover pastures. 2. Soil tests

1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (38) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Spencer ◽  
D Bouma ◽  
DV Moye
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Test Procedures ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Extractable P ◽  
Yield Responses

Values obtained by a number of established soil test procedures for phosphorus and sulphur were correlated with yield responses to addition of the relevant nutrient, by subterranean clover-based pastures at 21 sites in south-eastern New South Wales. Colwell's bicarbonate-soluble P and Bray's P, phosphorus values showed sufficiently close associations with response to added phosphorus to be useful for predictive purposes ; Bray's P, values generally gave smaller coefficients. In general, the pasture on soils testing less than 25 p.p.m. bicarbonate-extractable P in the surface three inches responded appreciably to applied phosphorus (relative yields were <85 per cent). The corresponding value for the Bray P, procedure was 10 p.p.m. P. Soil samples from 0-1, 0-3, and 3-6 inch depths gave similar correlations with response. The time of soil sampling did not affect the relationships but winter pasture production was not as closely related to soil test values as was spring production. By contrast, soil tests for sulphur were not reliable but some discrimination between soils could be made with a 500 p.p.m. phosphate extraction. Values from soil samples collected in the winter were less closely related to response than were values from samples collected in the autumn.

Surface soil acidity and fertility in the central-western wheatbelt of New South Wales

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Evans ◽  
B. J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Sodic Soils ◽  
Surface Soils ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Wales

Documentation of the chemical fertility status of the soils is sparse for the western and central-western wheatbelt of New South Wales, Australia. We examined properties of the surface soils (0–10 cm) from central-western NSW by collating two published and nine unpublished datasets of soil analyses representing about 2800 soil samples. The emphasis was on the red soils used extensively for cropping. The surface soils of central-western NSW have low phosphorus (47% of soils) and sulfur (70% of soils <5 mg S/kg using KCl-40 analysis) status and commonly have organic carbon contents of about 1%. Surface soil acidity was a substantial problem with 56% of soils (0–10 cm) having a pHCa <5.0. Sodic and dispersive soils are also of concern in this area and these soils have received little attention or research. Approximately 5% of surface (0–10 cm) soils had an exchangeable sodium percentage of ≥6% (sodic). Salinity of surface soils was of minor significance compared with other soil problems in the area, although isolated areas occur. These results indicated that lime applications in this area are likely to benefit crop and pasture production. Additional use of phosphorus and sulfur fertilisers and agricultural practices which increase or maintain organic carbon will also need to be adopted to improve pasture and crop production. The use of gypsum and/or lime on sodic soils may also need to be addressed. As a priority, we suggest that the benefits of lime application to crop yield be examined. The application of lime to the 0–10 cm soil depth should ultimately arrest acidification of the subsurface soil (10–20 cm depth) through downward movement of the lime effect. Further examination of gypsum applications to dispersive sodic soils and the evaluation of sulfur deficiency in the field for pastures and canola are also priority areas of likely agricultural relevance.

The relationship of soil properties to the growth of barrel medic at Condobolin, New South-Wales

Soil Research ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 371 ◽  
Author(s):  
IP Little ◽  
CJ Chartres ◽  
RR Young
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Natural Soil ◽  
Sampling Point ◽  
Alkaline Soils ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Barrel Medic ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Exchangeable Ca

Poor growth of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) has been observed in established pasture on the red duplex and gradational soils of the semi-arid sheep and wheat growing areas of western New South Wales. Red-brown earth soils were examined from three paddocks on Condobolin Research and Advisory Station in conjunction with a visual assessment of the growth of medic. The soils were sampled at 20 m intervals along three line transects in each of three paddocks with different cropping histories. Bray-P; pH, Mn and Al extracted by 0.01 M CaCl2; exchangeable plus soluble Na, K, Ca and Mg; and pH in a 1:5 soil/water suspension were measured at four depth increments at each sampling point. Although the pH in CaCl2 was often less than 5.0, in general no Al was extracted from the 0-5 cm soil layer. Classification of the soils on medic growth alone showed medics were absent from the most acid soils. However, there was considerable within class variability. A better approach was provided by classifying the soils by means of a Euclidean distance/flexible sort of scores from the first principal component. This classification showed that the poorest medic growth was associated with the most acid group with considerable amounts of Al soluble in 0.01 M CaCl2 in the 10-20 cm horizon. Medics grew best in soils with moderate pH values between 5 and 6 in CaCl2 where there was no soluble A1 and moderate levels of exchangeable Ca and Na and soluble Mn. Medics appeared also to grow less well in more alkaline soils where there was very little soluble Mn. There were no differences between classes in available P. There were differences between paddocks; the uncultivated paddock being the most acid and the paddock with the longest cropping history having more Bray-P, more exchangeable Na and more exchangeable Ca at 10-20 cm. The uncropped paddock became more acid and the base status was lowered by natural soil processes and its condition probably indicates the status of many such soils in the district.

EFFECTS OF SURFACE SOIL PH ON SOIL CATION CONTENT, LEAF NUTRIENT LEVELS AND QUALITY OF APPLES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. NEILSEN ◽  
P. B. HOYT ◽  
O. L. LAU
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Nutrient Response ◽  
High Ph ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Flesh Browning ◽  
Surface Soil Ph

’Starkrimson’ Delicious (Malus domestica Borkh.), 10–15 yr old, on seedling rootstock, were sampled in several orchards, selected for uniformly low soil pH (< 5.0), medium pH and high pH (6.5–7.3). Harrold Red Delicious, 20–25 yr old, were sampled in 18 orchards which had low, medium and high pH within each. Soils with low pH were generally characterized by higher exchangeable Mn and lower exchangeable Ca. Exchangeable soil Mg and K levels were not significantly related to soil pH. On soils of low pH, higher leaf Mn was the main plant nutrient response with both Harrold Red and Starkrimson trees. Significantly decreased leaf Ca was observed on the younger Starkrimson trees at low soil pH. Soil pH had no direct effect on fruit firmness, soluble solids, juice acidity, or flesh Ca, Mg and K contents. Poststorage fruit quality problems were primarily surface scald and were not related to differences in soil pH. Incidence of flesh browning was, however, related to low flesh Ca content.

Effects of previous superphosphate applications on the pasture environment and the response by pasture to a current dressing

1962 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 836 ◽  
Author(s):  
KD McLachlan ◽  
BW Norman
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Deficiency ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Lapse Rate ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Residual Value ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Calcium Phosphorus ◽  
Phosphate Fixation ◽  
A Current

A study was made of the effect of previous superphosphate applications on the response by pasture to the calcium, phosphorus, and sulphur in a current dressing. The trial was located on the Southern Tableland of New South Wales on soils of granitic, sedimentary, and basaltic origin. In each case the legume component of the pasture was subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneurn L.). The evidence shows that there is scope for altering the phosphorus and sulphur content of superphosphate to produce more efficient fertilizers for particular stages in pasture development and for particular soils. The residual value of the phosphorus was greater than the residual value of the sulphur in superphosphate. Even on the basaltic soils, phosphate "fixation" was of no practical significance. Nevertheless, any change in the relative phosphorus sulphur requirement of pastures with increasing amounts of superphosphate previously applied, resulted from a decline in the requirement for phosphorus, not from a change in the sulphur requirement. The number of years since the last application of superphosphate was shown to be the best predictor of responses to both phosphorus and sulphur, which indicated that the residual value of both these elements is limited in time. Implications of the lapse rate – the decline in effectiveness of the fertilizer with time – are discussed. The results show that pasture production was limited by phosphorus deficiency on soils where previous evidence suggested that the build-up of organic matter may be limited by sulphur deficiency.

Assessment of the phosphorus and sulphur status of subterranean clover pastures. 1. Environmental factors and pasture responses

1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (38) ◽  
pp. 310 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Spencer ◽  
D Bouma ◽  
DV Moye ◽  
EJ Dowling
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Phosphorus Addition ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Podzolic Soils ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Phosphorus Status

A series of 21 standardized field experiments was set out on established subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranem) pastures in south-eastern New South Wales in the autumn of 1963. Pasture growth at eleven of the 21 sites responded to phosphorus addition ; eight responded to sulphur addition. A dual deficiency existed at five sites. Seasonal pasture production was increased by up to 3,200 lb of dry matter an acre by phosphorus addition, and by up to 5,500 lb by sulphur addition. Clover was the component responsive to phosphorus and/or sulphur at most sites. To determine whether site characteristics can provide a basis for predicting the phosphorus or sulphur status of a pasture, several climatic and soil components of the environment were correlated with responses. Phosphorus status was not related to the rainfall, temperature or elevation at the site, nor to the kind of soil or soil pH. The more deficient pastures were younger, and, on the granitic soils only, present phosphorus status reflected the amount of superphosphate used in the past. Sulphur status was significantly related to rainfall for the podzolic soils only (r = 0.72) ; the driest sites tended to be the most sulphur deficient ones. Sulphur status showed a poor overall relationship with temperature, the trend being for the occurrence of more deficient soils at lower temperatures or higher elevations. Within the podzolic soils, the relationship with temperature was more definite (r = 0.69). There was no association with kind of soil or past superphosphate use, but there was a moderate to strong relationship (r = -0.78) with soil pH (the less acid, the more S deficient).

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